San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-19
SNAPDRAGON.

! cleaning; and when he is near, feel
| feel as if | must yield to some awe
some power stronger than myself, and
die as if my very soul was lost. Oh,
Madonna! it is too fearful"
Fear nothing" said Guy, clasping
her hand. when is the contract to be
signed, Annettay"
The nurse answered that the marriage
contract was to be signed the day after
the Marchesa d'UrbinO's ball.
Il know her; | shall be there" said
st. Maur. Fear nothing SignOrina
Leonora, you have devoted servant, a
faithful friend in Guy st. Maur; but |
will not keep you longer now, to your
peril perhaps. You will be at the ball?"
so will Count Geraldi," she whis-
pered. "Oh, my lord, take care for the
MadOnna's sakew
For yours, rather" he muttered, and
turned quickly away.
But LeonOra heard, and the light
flashed into her dark eyes.
Come, dear Annetta," she said: she
is most handsome, noble, this English
man"
He thinks that my child has a lover
of her own," said the nurse.
But | have not, nurse; you know that
l have no lover"
But in this very assertion the GRIM
son dyed her cheeks, and she ended
with half laugh. What then surely
was this very Englishman? Why did
her heart beat so fast when he was near?
Why was Gerald more repulsive to her
than ever.
One might write the month December
in black and white, but there was moth
ing of the dreary month, save the date,
in the gorgeous salons of the Urbino
Palace as the two young Englishmen
entered there the night of the ball.
Flashing lights, CLEANS of jewels and
satin, rich perfumes of exOtics that laded
the warm air, and a glorious moonlight
outside the window, flooding the marble
terrace that looked towards the la
goons.
The fair hostess received the two
Engllshmen with enthusiasm, st. Maur
presenting his friend, for she had met
the young peer in London society only
last season, and now asked after his
noble mother.
She is well, thank you, Marchesa,
and babe me, if l had the happiness to
meet you, to carry you her kindest re-
membranes" answered the young
man, as Frank passed on.
"Ah! she is kind to remember me,
my lord; shall hope to see her again.
And"-archly-~are not you married
yet?"
Not yet, Madame" said he laughing
ly, and with slight significance in the
yet" that made the lady look up
sharply.
"Ah! but you then will soon take a
bride perhaps. Have you heard that
we are to have, on lit, grand wedding
here before long,"
mo, dear MarcheSa, only dropped
anchor two days before the theatre was
burned" but he knew quite well what
she meant.
why, the beautiful Casamina-there
she is over there, surrounded of course
is to wed this strange Count Gerald;
which is shame" she added in a whis-
per, "for he is man to dread and make
ones blood run cold, and poor LeOnOra
hates him, know. There he is, talking
to her,-that handsome black-brOwed
man. See!" she shuddered.
OF course he did, he had seen LeOno-
"a IL once, and those about her in the
distance.
yes" he said" and l see he is no
favOrite of yours, dear Marchesa?"
"CielO, no! | call LeOnOra my friend,
but what can | dO-hOw can | save her?
BY the way, it is useless | suppose to
warn you, not to be too attentive to that
fair but unwilling bride elect?" this
with an arch laugh; because Gerald
would pick a quarrel and call you out,
or kill you with his glance"
Il could wish nothing better, Mar.
chesa, am a dead shot,"
She touched his arm significantly,
and as he stopped his head, whispered
i'll very different tone
Yet take care, a shot will not kill
him, and it is not the open challenge he
would give a rival, but the treacherous
stab of the assassin; you may be even
now watched by a hired knave of his,
he knows that you saved LeOnOra from
the flames. She told me, my lord! she
is as nOble-hearted as she is beautiful"
81 know it, my fair friend" answered
Guy, "and she shall never be sacrificed
to that fellow, believe me-"
She looked in his flashing eyes and
smiled
Command my secret add" she said,
and turned away whilst st. Maur made
his way to LeOnOra Casamina. The girl
turned to him with a glad smile and
Outstreched hand that had in it more
than intense relief though
she almost instantly presented the dark
cOlOrless man besides her as Count
Geraldi;" the latter bowed and offered
his hand, but as st. Maur's eyes met
the cleaning black eyes of the other;
as his warm hand touched the other
ice cold, he felt chill run through his
very nerve and understood what Leo
nora had meant. The Count was, how
ever, all affability and thanked him
for the services he had DONE" he might
say to himself.
1T is not worth mentioning, Count, !"
st. Maur answered, in no way deceived
by the others suavities, which were a
trifle OverdOne-
"Signorina, haveyOu one dance free?"
"The third from this, my lord, is free,
I think" giving him her card, with a
IL. u L.. -. L.